Download Feudal Europe Recap - East Penn School District

Stand back fair
maiden! I will protect
you from those
ferocious middle
school children.
Oh (gasp). But who
will save them from
having to learn aboutus?
Feudal Europe
First Kings
• Germanic tribes
took over after
Rome
• Fought for own
land
• Strongest
man/fiercest
warrior made king
Europe 500 AD
Europeans Needed
Protection
• During the 9th & 10th
centuries Europe was
invaded from every
direction
• North
– Viking invasions
• South
– Muslims had
conquered territory
• Feudalism grows
because the weak
needed protection!
King Divides His Lands
• Awards land called
“fiefs” to his top men
• Become noblescalled lords or…
• The lords became
vassals of the king
• Vassals- loyalty given
for land & protection
Even Vassals Have Vassals
• The king is the head of the nobility- called
royalty
• Nobles want more power
– Nobles gave fiefs to lesser nobles
– These lesser nobles became vassals too
• All were vassals except for the king
• Vassal= you swear loyalty; and agree
someone else is above you!
Feudalism In Europe
• As time passed, land in Europe was
divided into smaller kingdoms and
fiefdoms
• The kings did not command one large,
central empire
• Feudalism- land owned by king or lord,
vassals (including peasants) were
expected to work, pay taxes, and fight
for their lord
Europe 500 AD
The Manor System
• Way of organizing economy
• Manor- large area of farmland that also
contains, peasant villages, a church, and
typically a castle/manor house for protection
• The manor was run by the lord or king
• Peasants- fought and farmed in exchange
for land and protection
Life on the Manor
Everyone fits into one of the
following Roles
•
•
•
•
Those who rule
Those who pray
Those who fight
Those who work
Kin
g
Lords
&
Clergy
Knights
Lesser Lords
Peasants & Serfs
King/Lord Exchange
Kin
g
Lord
Land, (Fief)
Peasants
Way to Make Money
Protection
(Nobility
)
Loyalty
Will Fight in Army
Soldiers for Army
Cut of Taxes
Vassal of King
The Lord/Knight Exchange
Knight
Lord
Lesser
noble
May be a
Knight
Land, (Fief)
Peasants
Protection
Loyalty
Will Fight for Lord
Soldiers for Army
Cut of Taxes
Vassal of King
Vassal of Higher Lord
The Lord/Peasant
Exchange
Lesser
Peasant
Lord or
Knight
Protection
Land to Farm
Served in Army
Supplies Food
Pays Taxes
Labor
Vassal of Higher Lord or King
Vassal of Lord
Peasants
• Two types of peasants (poor farmers)
– Freeman- peasants who owned or rented a
small plot of land
– Serfs- peasants who were considered to be a
part of the manor (like property)
• Were not allowed to leave the manor
• Sometimes they could buy their freedom
• If they escaped and avoided capture for a year
and one day they became free
Castles
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Built of stone (at first built of wood)
Designed for protection not comfort
Built on a hill on rocky land if not,
needed a moat
Moat: deep water filled or dry ditch
Drafty, dirty, damp, dim, cold
Small windows, little sunlight
Heavy metal gate that protected the
heavy wooden door
Dungeons AKA Keeps- strongest
part of the castle; enemies kept
there- but also the hide out for the
lord and family